Two-time NCAA Player of the Year and No. 1 pick in this spring’s WNBA draft, Caitlin Clark, will not be part of the U.S. National Team for this summer’s Olympics, according to a report from The Athletic. Video above: Caitlin Clark talks about her WNBA debut and Lisa Bruder’s retirement Clark led Iowa to the NCAA title game two straight years before being drafted by Indiana. She was named WNBA Rookie of the Month for May. In the first month of the regular season, Clark led all 2024 rookies in scoring with 17.6 points per game. Citing “sources briefed on the decision,” The Athletic reported that it was confirmed by USA Today columnist Christine Brennan. The roster reportedly includes the following players: The players on the roster are A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, Alyssa Thomas, Napheesa Collier, Jewel Loyd, Kelsey Plumb, Jackie Young, Sabrina Ionescu, Chelsea Gray, and Kalia Copper. Brennan called the U.S. national team’s decision to leave Clark off the roster a “missed opportunity,” quoting basketball legend Lisa Leslie, who said, “I don’t know how we’re going to leave the country without her.” Clark became just the third player in WNBA history to record 100+ points, 30+ rebounds, and 30+ assists in her first six career games, joining Candace Parker and Sabrina Ionescu. Clark’s 30-point performance against the Los Angeles Sparks on May 28 marked the 27th time a Fever player has recorded 30+ points in a regular-season game. Clark hit seven 3-pointers, tied her career high with 30 points, and made a free throw late to help the Indiana Fever to an 85-83 victory over the Washington Mystics on Friday. According to Across the Timeline data, the Indiana Fever leads the league by a wide margin in both total attendance and average attendance. The Fever has drawn 82,857 fans in their five home games thus far, averaging 16,571 fans per game. The 82,000-plus fans is more than the total attendance for last year’s home games in Indiana. In 2023, the Fever will have 81,336 fans in their 20 home games, according to Across the Timeline. The U.S. women’s team has won every gold medal in women’s basketball since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The U.S. team will train together in Phoenix for a few days in July. They will then travel to London to play an exhibition game against Germany before heading to France. The U.S. team will face Japan, Belgium and Germany in Olympic pool play. This article is based on information from The Associated Press.
Two-time NCAA Player of the Year and No. 1 pick in this spring’s WNBA Draft, Caitlin Clark, will not be a member of the U.S. Olympic team this summer, The Athletic is reporting.
Video above: Caitlin Clark talks WNBA debut and Lisa Vladar’s retirement
Clark led Iowa to consecutive NCAA title games before being drafted by Indiana. She was named the WNBA Rookie of the Month for May. Through the first month of the regular season, Clark led all 2024 rookies in scoring with 17.6 points per month.
The Athletic, citing “sources briefed on the decision,” reported that USA Today columnist Christine Brennan confirmed the decision.
The list reportedly includes the following people:
- Aja Wilson
- Breanna Stewart
- Diana Taurasi
- Brittney Griner
- Alyssa Thomas
- Napheesa Collier
- Jewel Lloyd
- Kelsey Plum
- Jackie Young
- Sabrina Ionescu
- Chelsea Gray
- Kalea Copper
Brennan called the U.S. national team’s decision to omit Clark from the squad a “missed opportunity” and quoted basketball legend Lisa Leslie as saying, “I don’t know how we’re going to leave the country without her.”
Clark became just the third player in WNBA history, joining Candace Parker and Sabrina Ionescu, to record 100+ points, 30+ rebounds and 30+ assists in her first six career games. Her first 30-point game against the Los Angeles Sparks on May 28 marked the 27th time a Fever player had recorded 30 or more points in a regular-season game.
She made seven 3-pointers, scored a career-high-tying 30 points and made enough free throws late to help the Indiana Fever beat the winless Washington Mystics 85-83 on Friday.
According to Across the Timeline data, the Indiana Fever lead the league in both total attendance and average attendance by a wide margin: The Fever have drawn 82,857 fans in their five home games so far, averaging 16,571 fans per game.
The combined attendance of more than 82,000 fans already exceeds last year’s home stadium attendance in Indiana, with the Fever hosting 81,336 fans for 20 home games in 2023, according to Across the Timeline.
The United States women’s basketball team has won every gold medal since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
The U.S. team will have a few days of joint training in Phoenix in July before heading to London for an exhibition game against Germany before traveling to France.
The U.S. will face Japan, Belgium and Germany in Olympic pool play.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this article.
